William b



(No, Model.)

W. R. MoDOWELL. GAR, STREET, 0R STATION SIGN.

No. 584,598. Patented Ju'ne M, 1897.

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WITNESSES Q wisrw r- I v v i U U I ATTORNEY m: Norms PElTRs co vnoroumo: WA$HYNGTON u. c,

lhvrrnn STATES PATENT .VILLIAM R. MODOIVELL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR, STREET, on STATION SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,598, dated June 15, 1897. Application filed January 26, 1897. Serial No. 620,743. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. MCDOWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car, Street, or Station Signs, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of a novel and improved construction of electricallylighted signs for cars, streets, and stations and other purposes which is made of glass or other transparent material, provision being made for supporting the sign and for readily gaining access to and illuminating the interior thereof according to requirements.

It further consists of novel details of con strnction, all as will be hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a sign embodying my invention, a portion of the same being shown broken away for the purpose of showing the interior thereof. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal sectional View of an end of a glass sign having a rectangular body, showing the closed cap employed, the lamp being omitted. Fig. 3 represents a section on line so at, Fig. 1. Fig. l represents a sectional View of a sign in which the body portion is rectangular in shape in cross-seetion, its ends being cylindrical, the section being taken on line 3 y, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a sign, the same consisting of the body or body portion 13, which is cylindrical in the present instance and has one of its ends engaged by the cap 0, said cap being provided with the inturned flange D, whereby the sign is supported at the relative end.

E designates an arm projecting from cap 0, and H designates a cap which supports the other end of the body B and is provided with an arm J, which is rigidly secured to its support, the manner of supporting each end of the sign being substantially the same, except that the right-hand end in the present instance is provided with the pivoted arm E.

K designates a rod which passes through the arm J and is provided with a head on the outer portion thereof, while its other end passes through the arm E and has screw threads L, which are engaged by a thumb-nut M, whereby the caps O and H are held in proper position relative to the body of the sign.

N designates an incandescent or other lamp which is suitably supported in either of the caps C and H in any convenient manner, the current being conducted to said lamps by any suitable conductor Q.

In Figs. 2 and 4-. I have shown the body R of the lamp as rectangular or polygonal in cross-section, while the end portions S are preferably cylindrical for the purpose of engaging the cylindrical caps O or H, although it will of course be evident that said caps need not be cylindrical in every instance.

T designates a character such as the name of a street, station, &c., upon the body B of the sign, it being understood that said character may be marked directly on the body, but I prefer to employ a piece U, of paper or other material, the same being placed within the body and having the name of the desired station or street indicated thereon, through which the light shines, showing plainly the destination of the car, or the glass can be ground or frosted inside or out, or on both sides,and have the name, &c. ,painted thereon.

The operation is as follows: The street or station to be indicated is marked upon the glass or upon the paper placed Within the same, which can be done by loosening the thumb-nut M and swinging the cap 0 outwardly or to the right, after which the parts are placed in assembled position, as indicated in Fig. 1, the ends of the cylinder or body B being preferably cylindrical and fitting snugly into the caps G and H, whereby dust, moisture, Ate, are excluded and noise and rattling caused by the motion of the car are prevented.

Then it is desired to reverse the sign, the attendant loosens the thumb-nut M and rotates said sign to the desired extent, after which said nut is tightened.

It will of course be evident that changes may be made by those skilled in the art which will come within the scope of my invention, and I do not therefore desire to be limited to the exact construction I have herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A sign consisting of a hollow transparent body having an indicating device therein,caps adapted to fit the ends thereof and form a closure for the same, an arm connected with each of said caps for supporting the same, a rod passing through openings in said arms and provided With a clamping-nut, and ill uminating means Within said body, said body being adjustable within said caps.

2. A sign consisting of a body portion, the caps O and H engaging the ends thereof and forming a closure therefor, a rigid arm J ex tending from one of said caps and adapted to be attached to a fixed point, an arm E projecting from the other of said caps and pivotally supported, a rod K passing through said arms, means for holding said rod in position, and means for illuminating the interior of said sign.

A sign consisting of a polygonal body portion having cylindrical ends, supportingcaps engaging said ends and forming a closure therefor, an arm J extending from one of said caps and attached to a fixed point, an arm E projecting from the other of said caps and pivot-ally supported, a rod K passing through said arms, means for holding said rod in position, and means for illuminating the interior of said sign.

\VILLIAM R. MCDOWELL.

WVitnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, WM. 0'. WIEDERsHEIM. 

